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Marketplace AM for December 5, 2006

A Senate panel is looking into allegations that the SEC fired one of its investigators to protect a prominent Wall Street executive, but critics say the agency's problems run deeper. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.

It's a big morning for much-maligned trans fats. The New York City Board of Health meets today to decide whether to ban the artery-clogging oils from all the city's eateries. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

Western investors have been jumping over each other to get in on the action as China opens its banking sector to foreign investors. But commentator Austan Goolsbee warns there's still plenty of corruption under that shiny new IPO sheen.

The Republican-controlled 109th Congress begins its final session today. It's expected to leave the hard budget choices to the new Democratic Congress in '07 &mdash; and that could set up a showdown with the President. Hillary Wicai reports.

The House votes on a bill today that would allow offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. You can bet Big Oil will be a big winner if it passes. Alisa Roth tells us who else stands to make money in the deal.